Penguins Sign Defenseman Michalek

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Zbynek Michalek (z’BIGH-nehk mih-KHAL-ihk) to a five-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

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The contract runs through the 2014-15 season, and has an average annual value of $4 million dollars over the term of the contract.

Michalek, 27, has played six NHL seasons, the last five with the Phoenix Coyotes, totaling 27 goals, 88 assists and 115 points in 415 games. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound blueliner led the NHL in blocked shots in 2008-09 with 271.

Michalek posted 17 points (3G-14A) in 72 games for the Coyotes in 2009-10. He added two assists in seven postseason games for Phoenix.

The Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Republic native represented his country in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Michalek also played for the Czech Republic at the World Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008. He scored three goals in nine games in 2006 to help his country earn a silver medal.

Michalek, who broke into the NHL with Minnesota in 2003-04, won the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Championship with the Wild’s top-affiliate the Houston Aeros in 2003.